Sorry no Howie Mandel here but if you’re planning a cruise read on. You’ll see how sometimes the choices you make can be costly. I’ll try to give you some advice and examples to help ensure you sail away a winner.
There is no doubt that the cruise lines occasionally have some very attractive ads, but are they really a good deal? Here are a few examples of what I am talking about;
- Carnival advertises reduced deposits of $50 or free prepaid gratuities. When I called Carnival to get the reduced deposit, of $50 per person, I had to book a cabin that was $400 more per person than the one I was looking at. I admit that only having to pay $100 instead of $300 at time of booking is great, but it isn’t worth paying $800 more for the same type cabin. To get the free prepaid gratuities, you have to book a balcony or higher. If you want a balcony then it isn’t a problem. If not, then you need to figure out the difference between the cost of the balcony and the cost of the gratuities. Unless they are offering balconies at inside or outside prices, I can assure you that taking the cheaper cabin and paying the gratuities will cost you less than taking the balcony and getting free prepaid gratuities.
- Celebrity offers 2 free perks ($150 per person OBC, unlimited internet, prepaid gratuities or the classic beverage package). The ad doesn’t state that you have to book a certain cabin, but beware. I went online and did a sample booking (9 nights for 2 people) in an inside cabin. I got to the payment screen without a choice of my free perks. That’s a red flag! Booking an outside, I was given a choice. The difference in price for the cabins was $850 per person, $1700. Figure it out….for $850 you could get the drink package ($495), the onboard credit ($150), unlimited WIFI ($140) and about 1/2 of your gratuities ($65 of your $130.50). Again, if you want an outside or higher you’ll get 2 of the 4 included in your price, you still do without or have to pay for the other two.
- NCL offers free airfare + up to 5 free offers (unlimited open bar, shore excursions, specialty dining, WIFI or friends & family sail free. I have found the friends & family sail free to be the best option). It isn’t until you choose a destination that you see the ad change to Free & Reduced airfare. The airfare ranges from $0 – $399 for guests 1 & 2. Miami or Ft. Lauderdale to Seattle was $399 per person. Is that really reduced? If you choose the sail away cabin in their balcony cabin or lower, you WON’T GET to choose ANY offer. To get up to 5 free offers you have to book a Haven (the most expensive cabins on the ship). You also have to check the color coded charts to see exactly which offers apply to which cruise and then to which cabin. Friends & family sail free, for example, is not available on every sailing.
Keep in mind that most of the offers, no matter which cruise line, apply to the 1st & 2nd passengers in a cabin. Some of the offers are not combinable with other offers. I admit that doing your own sample booking is a lot of work, but it is the best deal in the end. Besides, the money you save can go towards other things….like your next cruise!